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Larry Noles

Author: The Valdosta Daily Times
Publication Date: 2005-01-21

VALDOSTA — Prior to Thursday’s inaugural parade, Lowndes High School’s Georgia Bridgemen received a little-expected recognition.

Jacqueline Hahey with Susan Davis International in Washington, D.C., said the marching band was selected by the Department of Defense to carry an America Supports You banner during the festivities. She said it was an opportunity to showcase and communicate American support to the men and women of the armed forces.

Charles Todd, band director, said he believed the honor had something to do with the group’s affiliation with Moody Air Force Base. He said he does not know if any other bands were asked to do the same.

“We were pretty excited to do that,” he added. “It was great. We marched right in front of the president and his father. It was a great experience.”

Coming through Virginia Wednesday, Todd said the Georgia Bridgemen encountered a little snow. He said it was enough to make the children happy and to bring the journey to a temporary halt.

“We came through a blizzard,” he said. “We were supposed to get into the metro area around 4:30 p.m. However, we did not get in Washington, D.C., until 7:30 p.m. We sat at a rest area around Petersburg, Va., for about two hours. It was snowing so hard. The kids had a good time. They had a snowball fight and built a snowman.”

When the Georgia Bridgemen resumed their journey to the nation’s capital, Todd was it was slow moving. He said the entourage, which included 12 school buses, maintained a speed of about 25-30 miles per hour for safety reasons. He expected much of the same as the group made its way back to Petersburg, Va., Thursday night for some rest and relaxation.

“Our drivers our very professional,” he said. “They drive carefully, slow down, and take their time. When things get bad, they move over into the right lane and toot along until things clear up.”

The Bridgemen are scheduled to return to Valdosta around 9 p.m. tonight.

America Supports You is a nationwide program launched by the Department of Defense in November to recognize citizen support for military men and women and communicate that support to fighting forces at home and abroad. Program officials said it’s the support of the American people that “builds and sustains the morale of those fighting to defend freedom against the tyranny of terrorism.”

Hahey said response to the program has been overwhelming, with stories of support coming in from all across the country.

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